CATCA 2025: Full Schedule

9:00am MST

Works for Me in Music K-3

Thursday February 20, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST

This session is especially designed for those who are teaching K-3 Music but have little training or background. Joyce uses her 31 years of elementary music teaching to share her favourite and classroom-tested songs and music games which will engage students and meet curricular outcomes.

Speakers

Joyce Holoboff

Music

Joyce Holoboff has taught elementary music and junior high band with Wolf Creek School Division for 31 years. She uses a hybrid approach combining elements of Kodaly, Orff, and world music in her elementary instruction, and she loves teaching beginning recorder. Joyce has directed... Read More →

Thursday February 20, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
RDP Room 2505

Music & Band (TQS 3), Division 1 (Gr 1-3)

10:20am MST

"Propping Up" Your Elementary Music Class

Thursday February 20, 2025 10:20am - 11:20am MST

RDP Room 2505

Add extra zing and fun to your elementary music classroom with inexpensive and creative props. Plastic plates, cups, ribbons, scarves, balls - to name a few - can be used to enhance singing and listening activities, and take your performances to the next level. Join in on the fun as Joyce shows a variety of ways to “prop up”!

Speakers

Joyce Holoboff

Music

Thursday February 20, 2025 10:20am - 11:20am MST
RDP Room 2505

Music & Band (TQS 3), Division 1 (Gr 1-3), Division 2 (Gr 4-6)

11:40am MST

Code of Professional Conduct: Navigating the Alberta Teaching Profession’s Processes

Thursday February 20, 2025 11:40am - 12:40pm MST

RDP Room 2505

This session will outline the new discipline process in place relating to complaints of unprofessional conduct and incompetence. Teachers will learn about the stages of the new discipline process, new requirements in the Code of Professional Conduct and some strategies to avoid being the subject of a complaint.

Speakers

Tanya Thiessen

Executive Staff Officer, Alberta Teachers' Association

Tanya joined the Association’s executive staff in April 2021. She spent most of her 15-year career with Elk Island Catholic Schools as a high school teacher, school counsellor and administrator. Tanya was fortunate to be able to serve in many communities including Sherwood Park... Read More →

Thursday February 20, 2025 11:40am - 12:40pm MST
RDP Room 2505

School Leadership (LQS 1-9), Division 1 (Gr 1-3), Division 2 (Gr 4-6), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 4 (Gr 10-12), Early Childhood Education (Pre K-K), All Divisions | Professional Issues (TQS/LQS 6), Division 1 (Gr 1-3), Division 2 (Gr 4-6), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 4 (Gr 10-12), Early Childhood Education (Pre K-K), All Divisions

1:00pm MST

Exchanges: Embark on a journey that will inform, inspire and transform your teaching or leadership journey

Thursday February 20, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST

RDP Room 2505

Interested in a short-term exchange with a colleague in Spain, Germany, Mexico, Australia, Iceland or with one of Alberta’s International Accredited Schools across the globe?

Come to this session and learn how to build your own teaching or leadership adventure with an exciting in-person short term (1-2 week) exchange or a virtual one (4 week). Carolyn Freed will be your guide in this fantastic new world! The experience and realities of teaching and school leadership are constantly in transition- an exchange can bring a wealth of insights to the work you do here in Alberta.

Exchanges are a unique professional peer-to-peer development opportunity for teachers and school administrators to collaborate within their profession. Open the door and get out of your comfort zone, engage in meaningful and critical conversations, and experience first-hand how your peers engage with best practices.

Speakers

Carolyn Freed

Exchange Liaison, The Alberta Teachers' Association

Carolyn Freed is the Educator Exchange Programs Liaison at the Alberta Teachers' Association, with over 10 years of experience coordinating international exchange programs.

Thursday February 20, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
RDP Room 2505

2:20pm MST

Promote Yourself: Resumes and Cover Letters that Get Noticed

Thursday February 20, 2025 2:20pm - 3:20pm MST

RDP Room 2505

Are you interested in learning how to communicate the story of your teaching career and showcase your educational, professional, leadership and volunteer experience to pique employers’ interest? In this session, the presenter will share advice on how to edit your resume and write a strong cover letter to improve your chances of getting an interview.

Speakers

Danny Maas

Acting Associate Coordinator, Professional Development

Danny Maas is an Executive Staff Officer with The Alberta Teachers' Association in the Professional Development program area. He was previously the Manager of Educational Technology with Edmonton Catholic School Division and has supported teacher professional development for the past... Read More →

Thursday February 20, 2025 2:20pm - 3:20pm MST
RDP Room 2505

9:00am MST

Cultivating Compassion: Building a Safe and Supportive School Environment for All

Friday February 21, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST

RDP Room 2505

In this session, we will explore how compassion can be intentionally embedded into the fabric of school culture, benefiting students, teachers, school leaders, and support staff alike. Attendees will share practical strategies to foster compassion in daily interactions and schoolwide practices. We'll discuss why compassion serves as a powerful lever for creating psychological safety, enhancing mental well-being, and building stronger, more resilient educational communities. Join us to discover how compassionate practices can lead to more inclusive, supportive, and psychologically safe environments where all members of the school community can thrive.

Speakers

Dr. Lisa Everitt

Executive Staff Officer, Government

Dr. Lisa Everitt has dedicated her career to the field of education, commencing with working as a teacher in both the North West Territories and in Parkland School Division. Since 2006, she has served as an executive staff officer with the Alberta Teachers Association. Throughout... Read More →

Friday February 21, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am MST
RDP Room 2505

10:20am MST

Leading for Equity: Unpacking Leadership Models, Gendered Expectations, and Bias in Alberta Schools

Friday February 21, 2025 10:20am - 11:20am MST

RDP Room 2505

This session explores diverse leadership models and the traits that define effective school leaders, with a focus on how gendered expectations shape leadership roles and responsibilities. Participants will delve into the ways in which bias and gendered assumptions influence school leadership dynamics, particularly in the context of Alberta's education system. Through critical reflection and discussion, attendees will gain insights into how these factors impact not only leaders but the broader teaching profession. The session aims to provide actionable strategies for fostering a more equitable environment for all and promote leadership that is inclusive, supportive, and fair.

Speakers

Dr. Lisa Everitt

Executive Staff Officer, Government

Friday February 21, 2025 10:20am - 11:20am MST
RDP Room 2505

11:40am MST

Mapping your Nervous System and Behaviors

Friday February 21, 2025 11:40am - 12:40pm MST

RDP Room 2505

This session introduces the science of Polyvagal Theory and how the application of this theory relates to our own well being as teachers and its relation to how it will support social and emotional well-being in our students and into our schools. The goal is to understand how our nervous system drives all behaviors and learning.

Speakers

Tania Diletzoy

Tania Diletzoy is a Canadian Certified Counsellor with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. She has Masters in Counselling and has counselled children, youth, adults and families from a variety of backgrounds for over 20 years as a school counsellor, learning assistance... Read More →

Friday February 21, 2025 11:40am - 12:40pm MST
RDP Room 2505

Counselling & Student Support (TQS/LQS 4), Early Childhood Education (Pre K-K), Division 4 (Gr 10-12), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 1 (Gr 1-3), Division 2 (Gr 4-6), All Divisions

1:00pm MST

A Year in the Life of Junior High Art

Friday February 21, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST

RDP Room 2505

From oil pastel to soapstone sculpture, various successful grade 7, 8 and 9 art projects with be explored. Session participants will discuss student exemplars, project extensions and formal assessment rubrics that connect with the Alberta Art Curriculum. Participants will be able to create a project exemplar to take with them during this session. Art is a vehicle to engage students of any academic or physical ability. Students can utilize art as a tool to gain a better sense of wellness, creativity and self-confidence through the exploration of the arts.

Speakers

Christa Chapman

Visual Art, Social Emotional Learning & Mindfulness

Christa Chapman has been practicing mindfulness, meditation and yoga for over 20 years, and has completed a 500hr Modo/Moksha yoga teacher training, is a certified yin yoga (80hr), meditation instructor (200hr) and enrolled in a Social Emotional Learning/Mindfulness for Educators... Read More →

Friday February 21, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm MST
RDP Room 2505

Art (TQS 3), Division 3 (Gr 7-9)

2:20pm MST

Charge Your Battery by Incorporating Mindfulness and SEL into the Classroom

Friday February 21, 2025 2:20pm - 3:20pm MST

RDP Room 2505

Find out ways to charge your own battery as an educator by incorporating mindfulness and social emotional learning into the classroom environment! We will explore the proven scientific evidence, anecdotes and testimonials about how and why bringing mindfulness and SEL into your daily routines/classroom environments are beneficial to you and your students mental, emotional and physical health. Simple and easy to use tips, techniques and methods will be explored, and a hand out will be provided, where you will then be able to practice them in the session, and conveniently incorporate Mindfulness and Social Emotional Learning strategies into your daily life, and classroom! We will end the session with a longer relaxing group mindfulness session/reflection, to send you blissfully on your way! All experiences are welcome!

Speakers

Christa Chapman

Visual Art, Social Emotional Learning & Mindfulness

Friday February 21, 2025 2:20pm - 3:20pm MST
RDP Room 2505

Health and Wellness (TQS 3), Division 1 (Gr 1-3), Division 2 (Gr 4-6), Division 3 (Gr 7-9), Division 4 (Gr 10-12), Early Childhood Education (Pre K-K), All Divisions